(I shot the sheriffBut I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no! Oh!I shot the sheriffBut I didn't shoot no deputy, ooh, ooh, oo-ooh.)Yeah! All around in my home town,They're tryin' to track me down;They say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputy,For the life of a deputy.But I say

Oh, now, now. Oh!(I shot the sheriff) the sheriff.(But I swear it was in self defense.)Oh, no! (Oh, oh, oh) Yeah!I say: I shot the sheriff oh, Lord! (And they say it is a capital offense.)Yeah! (oh, oh, oh) Yeah!

Sheriff John Brown always hated me,For what, I don't know,Every time I plant a seed,He said kill it before it grow,He said kill them before they grow.And so

Read it in the news:(I shot the sheriff.) Oh, Lord!(But I swear it was in self-defense.)Where was the deputy? (oh)I say, I shot the sheriff,But I swear it was in self defense. (oh) Yeah!

Freedom came my way one dayAnd I started out of town, yeah!All of a sudden I saw sheriff John BrownAiming to shoot me down,So I shot, I shot, I shot him down and I say:If I am guilty I will pay.